Potential to Supercharge my Bora 4Motion

[BORAV6]

Hi all,

Just a quick one, I have a very neat silver 01 Bora 4Motion and I was toying with selling it and upgrading to another car, but I love so much I've decided to keep it and build a mild sleeper.

I have been looking for information on supercharger kits, and what I may need to budget for this. Could someone point me in the right direction of some websites/info on complexity of this build.

Thanks all, help is much appreciated!

[schoona]

Hi all,

Just a quick one, I have a very neat silver 01 Bora 4Motion and I was toying with selling it and upgrading to another car, but I love so much I've decided to keep it and build a mild sleeper.

I have been looking for information on supercharger kits, and what I may need to budget for this. Could someone point me in the right direction of some websites/info on complexity of this build.

Thanks all, help is much appreciated!

Mate all the best.
I'd budget to do the basic charger conversion about AUD$6000 for your Bora.
AFAIK, VF-engineering have redesigned their kit (as well as the Vortech Charger) to cure some oil feed problems so reliability is up there.
I drove a supercharged R32 up this way not too long ago and it was awesome, but certainly need to be prepared for it.

Best bet (especially being in Melbourne) is to call Lucas @ Eurospeed and go have a look...

Im pretty sure Storm Developments in the UK have a Rotrex kit for the 24v (they do for 12v and R32...).

HTH

[Dyldo]

Mate all the best.
I'd budget to do the basic charger conversion about AUD$6000 for your Bora.
AFAIK, VF-engineering have redesigned their kit (as well as the Vortech Charger) to cure some oil feed problems so reliability is up there.
I drove a supercharged R32 up this way not too long ago and it was awesome, but certainly need to be prepared for it.

Best bet (especially being in Melbourne) is to call Lucas @ Eurospeed and go have a look...

Im pretty sure Storm Developments in the UK have a Rotrex kit for the 24v (they do for 12v and R32...).

HTH

Caveat - everyone on here knows i am about as far away from an expert as you can get.

With that said, Rotrex and VF have 24v VR6 superchargers and my searching shows the fitment is easier following a UK version for RHD like the Rotrex. Cures all the little niggles you might get going from USDM LHD to RHD which is all good for UK and Oz.

I am probably like everyone else in the thinking that the SC would mate very well with how smooth and awesome the VR6 24v is. However, do some more reading and it appears in nearly every case that the folks that fit the SC then go and spend the dough on removing the SC and fitting a turbo instead. Bottom line, the SC is parasitic in that it "robs" power from the engine to build boost but that boost is there almost from idle - its very quick and very usable. Not to start a snail versus blower discussion but the turbo will always deliver more power and thats what gets most folks (like me) like honey to the bee.

I say go for it man, i'm right behind any idea to force induce the Bora. Take lots of pics and involve this community and take us for the ride. Only last tip is to have all the cash up front and ready to go, don't start the project on cashflow cause it will be a big impediment. go for it man!!!

[DNA Tuning]

If you're not looking for huge power, a low pressure supercharger kit would be great.

They aren't as parasitic as people make them out to be; when not boosting, ie. when diverter valves are open, free spinning of the supercharger does not rob much horsepower at all.

I supercharged my Audi 2.8 which was a great experience, but at the end of the day cylinder 6 let go because I got too greedy for power by putting on a smaller SC pulley (10psi, up from 7). I think, best thing about an SC setup is the relatively low maintenance; less issues regarding boost leaks, slipping clutch, turbo lubrication, piping, etc.

Sure the peak power is not very great, but that aggressive throttle response that is always there is really very nice. I'd imagine a 2.8 VR6 engine with an SC kit would feel as potent as a V8.

[Dyldo]

I'd imagine a 2.8 VR6 engine with an SC kit would feel as potent as a V8.

but what kind of v8? an old school late 70s Commodore V8? Or a new gen v8?

and for comparison, what would a SC VR6 Bora do 0-100, all other things being stock and equal?

[balkanac]

im not sure about VW's VR6 engines but i know a guy who had a BMW 328i e36 with a Rotrex SC on 8PSi and it was putting out the same power at the wheels as a 3.2l M3 E36. It was very driveable and smooth, and the power was there all the time.
I wouldn't put a turbo on my car, i hate the lag and you can feel that the power is "fake". With a sc it feels like you are driving a very responsive NA car

[schoona]

im not sure about VW's VR6 engines but i know a guy who had a BMW 328i e36 with a Rotrex SC on 8PSi and it was putting out the same power at the wheels as a 3.2l M3 E36. It was very driveable and smooth, and the power was there all the time.
I wouldn't put a turbo on my car, i hate the lag and you can feel that the power is "fake". With a sc it feels like you are driving a very responsive NA car

I know 3.2 is different, but it felt like a nice new torque monster. Sure it labourred a little under a decent incline in 6th, but back to 5th and it pulled out no worries. Any other gear was mightily impressive.

That was VF stage 2 kit, techtonics 2.5" catback, VF 263deg cams, 5psi.

[Dyldo]

oh bloody great, now i am also looking at SC instead of a snail. Do i go smooth pulling power with an SC and save a LOT of money? Or do i pull big power on a custom build (that i'll never do again in my life and will probably keep all of my life) and do it big with a huffer?

Would you do forged internals, HD clutch, LSD, etc with an SC or is the SC not pushing it enough?

[schoona]

oh bloody great, now i am also looking at SC instead of a snail. Do i go smooth pulling power with an SC and save a LOT of money? Or do i pull big power on a custom build (that i'll never do again in my life and will probably keep all of my life) and do it big with a huffer?

Would you do forged internals, HD clutch, LSD, etc with an SC or is the SC not pushing it enough?

SC wouldn't bother. Should have forged crank and rods from the factory. For SC id only use a head spacer/metal head gasket to drop compression a bit.
Being really special about it you could go new mains bearings, head studs and all that, but unless its had a really hard life it should be quite alright Dyl

The supercharged one was still on the standard clutch (estimated 400-440 crank hp) but my NA standard R32 has the upgraded Sachs clutch. So know idea what the logic is there. Mine got tracked so fairly brutal, but treat the standard one right and it shouldnt have problems with the power at all.
LSD, you wont have a problem with traction, if you want to go Time Attack or club sprints or something you could get the replacement Quaifes/Peloquins but it'd be overkill for sure.

(I haven't done this before, but did a bit of reearch when looking at my options, can still be wrong about my ideas though)

[BORAV6]

Mate all the best.
I'd budget to do the basic charger conversion about AUD$6000 for your Bora.
AFAIK, VF-engineering have redesigned their kit (as well as the Vortech Charger) to cure some oil feed problems so reliability is up there.
I drove a supercharged R32 up this way not too long ago and it was awesome, but certainly need to be prepared for it.

Best bet (especially being in Melbourne) is to call Lucas @ Eurospeed and go have a look...

Im pretty sure Storm Developments in the UK have a Rotrex kit for the 24v (they do for 12v and R32...).

HTH

Hi all,

Thanks heaps for all of the advice! At this stage I love the Bora, but I'm not looking for a monster, just something nice and smooth with some unexpected power in comparison to your EVO's, WRX's and even some V8's. I am going to speak to Lucas @ Eurospeed and potentially AudVolks about doing the work. I have the money upfront for the project, my only problem will be having the car off the road, and I dont know how long that will be.

If I can hit 200 kw at the engine initially then I'll be very happy. Can anyone point me in the right direction of looking up some information on the VF-Engineering kit so I can understand the specs etc? I'll be sure to keep you all posted once I start a project page!

[schoona]

Hi all,

Thanks heaps for all of the advice! At this stage I love the Bora, but I'm not looking for a monster, just something nice and smooth with some unexpected power in comparison to your EVO's, WRX's and even some V8's. I am going to speak to Lucas @ Eurospeed and potentially AudVolks about doing the work. I have the money upfront for the project, my only problem will be having the car off the road, and I dont know how long that will be.

If I can hit 200 kw at the engine initially then I'll be very happy. Can anyone point me in the right direction of looking up some information on the VF-Engineering kit so I can understand the specs etc? I'll be sure to keep you all posted once I start a project page!

VF website is a good place to start

I believe its in the 375 crank hp region.....

[Mr. JLT]

Have a read of this gents this will help you understand S/c kits. I have had both and enjoyed both since the power was different. I Installed both kits- not to hard depending on your skill level-but if your going to have a shop install your S/c kit prepare to shell out some cash and don't be surprized if your told that you have to buy the S/c kit threw what ever shop you are talking with or they wont install it. I would recommend C2 or UM S/c software for what ever kit you get. Also there are a few 2nd hand kits for sale on the same forums at a good price- I would snap up while the Aus dollar is still at a good rate. Let me know if you have any more questions regaurding FI. Cheers J
VWVortex.com - Stage 4 supercharger reborn....The final fantasy........

[Mr. JLT]

Also if your worried about the so called parasitic drag on the pullies when adding a S/C kit just add a set of lightened pullies. There nice- I added them to the .:R when it was still NA. gruvenparts.com - 24V VR6 Power Pulleys

[Lonewolf1983]

I weighed up both options myself, both have pros and cons.
If your happy with 280-300hp at the motor, one of the simple bolt on SC kits would be the go. No pissing about with head spacers etc, just get a kit with an intercooler. Budget $5-6k
You wont get a big whack of torque in the midrange like you do with a turbo, but a nice linear power curve, similar to stock feel but a fair bit more power and torque.

I looked at the VF kits, but reliability of them seems to be an issue.
Rotrex kits look awesome, but a fair bit more expensive, and you'll need to look into who can supply a tune to suit.

IMHO if your looking for more power than this, I would look at one of the turbo kits (like the C2). Will cost a bit more to do, but get a fair bit more power, and significantly more midrange torque.

[schoona]

I weighed up both options myself, both have pros and cons.
If your happy with 280-300hp at the motor, one of the simple bolt on SC kits would be the go. No pissing about with head spacers etc, just get a kit with an intercooler. Budget $5-6k
You wont get a big whack of torque in the midrange like you do with a turbo, but a nice linear power curve, similar to stock feel but a fair bit more power and torque.

I looked at the VF kits, but reliability of them seems to be an issue.
Rotrex kits look awesome, but a fair bit more expensive, and you'll need to look into who can supply a tune to suit.

IMHO if your looking for more power than this, I would look at one of the turbo kits (like the C2). Will cost a bit more to do, but get a fair bit more power, and significantly more midrange torque.

And flexibility to keep playing afterwards